Entries now closed

Entries into the Manchester Legal Awards 2019 are now closed and the shortlist will be announced early in the new year. Good luck to all those that enter.

The short-listed nominees will be notified by Fran Eccles-Bech, Chief Executive of Manchester Law Society, and invited to be interviewed by the judges on Friday 18 January 2019.

As you will appreciate, it is logistically difficult to get all of the judges together on one day so Friday 18 January 2019 is the only date available for interviews. Therefore, if you have entered, please keep this date free.

Criteria List

10 marks will be given for each of the criteria which should all be no longer than 200 words each

Trainee/Paralegal of the Year

Provide details of an event where professional integrity prevailed over other considerations

Describe an occasion where your/their team and people skills were demonstrated

Outline evidence to show your/their technical progress and development

Solicitor of the Year (excludes legal director/member/principal lawyer/consultant)

Outline how much income you/they have been directly responsible for in the qualifying period

Describe your/their contribution to the success of significant cases or projects in the qualifying period

Provide one specific example to demonstrate how you/they have provided added-value service to a client

Explain how you/they are developing a reputation in your/their area of expertise and standing out from your/their peers

Give an account of a specific incident or event that demonstrated your/their inherent leadership qualities

Pro Bono/Community Initiative

Give details of an initiative you have introduced during the qualifying period that demonstrates corporate social responsibility

What motivated you to introduce this initiative

Explain how you secured buy-in and support internally for this initiative

Outline the impact and results achieved for the pro bono client over the qualifying period

Detail the benefits that have been derived from this initiative internally

Law Firm Innovation Award

Explain the rationale that led your firm to introduce a more innovative way of delivering legal services over the qualifying period

Describe how you have implemented this innovation

Outline the benefits of this innovation to your firm

Summarise the benefits of this innovation to your clients

Explain how your firm will maintain momentum and continue to benefit from this innovation in the future

Corporate/Commercial - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Crime - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Explain the steps you have taken to achieve financial stability in a changing legal landscape

Employment - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Confirm your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you intend to maintain growth

Litigation - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Confirm your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you intend to maintain growth

Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Family - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Private Client - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Property - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Regulatory - Team of the Year

Explain why the quality of service you offer is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger team members

Using specific examples, illustrate the commercial value or personal impact of your services to clients

Set out your team’s financial performance over the qualifying period and how you plan to maintain growth

Barrister of the Year

Outline a case that has brought you the most personal satisfaction during the qualifying period

Give details of your involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Give specific examples to illustrate how your service and care has exceeded a specific client’s expectations

Explain how you have personally contributed to the success of your Chambers

Tell us about any pro-bono work you have undertaken over the qualifying period

Barristers Chambers of the Year

Explain why the quality of service offered by your Chambers is exceptional and illustrate your claims with specific examples

Give details of your Chambers’ involvement in three notable cases over the qualifying period

Tell us about any pro bono work undertaken by your Chambers over the qualifying period, evidencing the impact

Describe how your Chambers has invested in the success of the region’s legal sector over the qualifying period

Set out how you maintain a sense of collective pride and contribution within your Chambers

Partner of the Year (includes legal directors/members/principal lawyers/consultants)

Explain how you/they have maintained or enhanced the reputation of your firm during the qualifying period

Give an account of a specific incident or event that demonstrated your/their leadership qualities

Explain how your/their vision has positively influenced the future strategy of your/their practice

Indicate how valued qualities and skills are being transferred to younger members of your/their team

What has been your single greatest contribution to the wellbeing of your practice during the qualifying period

Law Firm of the Year - small (1-5 partners nationally)

Detail your firm’s top three highlights from the qualifying period

Summarise your financial performance over the qualifying period, including year on year comparisons, and highlighting any areas of exceptional growth

Describe how your firm attracts and retains new staff, and how it's committed to equality and diversity

List three new clients you have attracted during the qualifying period

Explain how you measure client satisfaction and promote client loyalty

Law Firm of the Year - medium (6-20 partners nationally)

Detail your firm’s top three highlights from the qualifying period

Summarise your financial performance over the qualifying period, including year on year comparisons, and highlighting any areas of exceptional growth

Describe how your firm attracts and retains new staff, and how it's committed to equality and diversity

List three new clients you have attracted during the qualifying period

Explain how you measure client satisfaction and promote client loyalty

Law Firm of the Year - large (20+ partners nationally)

Detail your firm’s top three highlights from the qualifying period

Summarise your financial performance over the qualifying period, including year on year comparisons, and highlighting any areas of exceptional growth

Describe how your firm attracts and retains new staff, and how it's committed to equality and diversity

List three new clients you have attracted during the qualifying period

Explain how you measure client satisfaction and promote client loyalty

2018 Winners' Gallery

About MLA

The Manchester Law Society and Manchester Evening News have once again teamed up to bring you the Manchester Legal Awards 2019.

Now firmly established on the legal calendar, the Manchester Legal Awards recognise and reward the wide range of skills and talent this region has to offer.

The categories encourage nominations from small, medium and large firms and chambers, with a range of individual and team awards. The region’s outstanding talent will be honoured at a glamorous and glittering black-tie dinner on Thursday 7 March 2019 at The Midland Hotel.